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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

On the Sewing Table

How does she do it? It's like Pip can smell expensive fabric from a mile away.

It's been a busy couple weeks, readers. I know I've been a little absent around these parts, but much has been happening behind the scenes! I've been frantically prepping for the filming of my next Craftsy course. The Bombshell Dress class was a big success, and Pip and I have been scheming day and night to make the next one even better. Can you guess the subject? I am super excited for this online course--it will have an exclusive pattern designed by yours truly in a wide range of sizes.

I also spent the weekend at my editor's house revising the second pass of my book. She put me up in her cozy guest room, fed me, and even lent me hand-knitted socks to wear.

Can't wait to see your next venture! On my sewing table ... I am still trying to gather the fabrics for the Layer Cake Crinoline. Cotton Organdy is hard to find it seems. Finally snagged some in black from E-bay, but then needed to order some Bemberg lining to match. I am anxious to get it done - but this will give me time to finish the dress that goes with it. Guess they go hand-in-hand.Blessings,Patti

i'm working on my second pair of clovers (or 5th pair, if you count all my previous muslins. yikes!). they are going to be red and i am very excited for red pants in my future.

can't wait to see what the next course will be! that wool looks lovely. i haven't even made up my bombshell dress yet - i bought the course, but i'm holding out for the perfect fabric before i start anything!

I just finished a skirt and I'm starting a blouse from a 1950's pattern. It looks tricky, sigh, we shall see how it goes. But what I SHOULD be trying to do is make my father some Pajamas for Chanukkah. I'm just selfish, I suppose...

I have a top and cardigan set cut out and a 1/2 finished pair of ponte knit slacks, but what is actually on the sewing table right now...Christmas and Hanukkah gifts that need to be wrapped!! Sewing has been postponed (LOL) I'm thinking of spending New Years Eve in my sewing room with old movies playing (YEAH!).

My sewing table has just welcomed some velvet pants! I am making the toile right now, super important since I have never made pants (they might be the one thing that sort of scare me), shorts but never pants. But I have had such an awesome vision of some velvet plaid pants. So I'm doing it!

I'm working on a secret pattern testing project, plus knitting up oodles of Christmas gifts! I'm hoping to squeeze in a Christmas dress for myself, but I'm not TOO optimistic about finishing on time! :)

On my sewing table, just finished an embellished umbrella that will go on my blog tonight, and I'm half way through a completely impractical and frivolous apron which I'm hoping to wear to cook my Christmas dinner, trying to finish that this week. Can't wait to see your next venture! x

Just finished a cute red dress with a peter pan collar. Very christamasy! Have made a muslin for a New Years Eve dress in fifties style in sari fabric. Oh, please do tell: What will do you for your next course??

I just finished cutting out all the pieces for a blazer type coat, my first attempt. But I'm really hoping that beautiful coat Pip is sitting on is a clue to your next class--please teach me the ways of beautiful coat making!! I will be your pupil, and you will be my master--master Gertie. ;)

My sewing table contains a maternity shirt that is mostly done, but turned out way too big. Who knew it was possible for something maternity to be too big? Sadly, I'm now too tired to work on it, so it will probably stay there until I'm no longer in need of maternity wear. D'oh.

My lovely British Blue cat is often on my sewing table along with lots of other things like paperwork that do not belong there! It has just occurred that the New Years resolution is to clear the paperwork but my lovely cat can stay. Also need inspiration to get going again !Happy Christmas :)

How wide, Gertie? (RTW 34, erring on the bigger side rather than the smaller, please?!)

On mine, is the second set of underwear to go under the matching Christmas dresses that are next on the list. These dresses needed some serious fluff, so I made a half-slip crinoline, a full crinoline (which is basically just a sleeveless tiered dress) a regular slip, and ruffle-butt panties under it all. I just finished the hair bows that match the dress and the clippies that match the bows, and I have the patterns already altered. The shoes and tights that go with them are set aside... it's just a matter of getting everything sewn up while working around the needs of a seven-month old baby and a three-year-old toddler!

Pip, like kitties everywhere, knows a warm, comfy fabric when she feels one! As for my table... I have fabric & material to make hubby some custom jeans. Now, if I can only get him to stay in one place long enough to get his measurements... (Without him being horizontal & asleep, I mean!)

Way too much! Vogue 8280, Vogue 1102, vogue 1161, a Maxi Dress, a boy's grandpa cardigan, a stuffed sausage dog...too excited to pick one, so naturally I start them all and end up in a sewing paralysis.

On my sewing table just finished Christmas gifts: 2 matching reversible Dr. Seuss aprons for the pre-school grandkids, a standmixer cover and matching double-sided apron for my daughter-in-law, and a special order Nook cover for my son.

Now I need to spend some time on something for myself. Oh, Collette, I'm coming over to order!

On my sewing table is a pattern for a fleece jacket that is waiting to be shortened, a box of ribbon that I was digging through to set up a pic for my blog, oh, and yes, always a cat (usually Little Miss Muffet).

Ooh, I am excited to see what the new sewing course is! Your projects are always gorgeous.

I'm making up Simplicity 2444 in a gorgeous emerald-colored linen (seriously, best linen ever. It handles like silk dupioni. I don't question it, for fear it will vanish back into the aether). I hope to have it ready in time for our first wedding anniversary on the 28th!

Piles of stuff on my table. Sigh! I think an office cleaning is in order for the New Year, although last year I spent a week cleaning and once it was DONE I spent a week staring at it, unable to get any momentum. I just can't win. k.

At the moment my sewing table is mostly covered in Christmas presents for the kids, there is a tiered skirt in there somewhere though and a couple of retro patterns from the 40's and 50's that I desperately want to make.

All I want for Christmas is my polkadot bombshell dress, currently draped on my ironing board, waistband half completed. I am loving the course and just finished watching the instructions on doing the boning... Hilarious. I don't think you are as good with wirecutters as you are with fabric. Do you think I will finish in time to wear the dress on Christmas day (it is summer down here in Australia)? So pleased you are doing another Craftsy course. My guess is the subject might be a coat. Whatever it is, I will be doing it!

a muslin for a blouse for my miss19 and i'm about to cut out a 2nd tunic for myself. Am also teaching miss19 to piece patchwork squares together for a baby quilt she wants to learn how to make for friends.

on my sewing table there´s a skirt that used to fit me well, but as it was so simple to put together I fiddled around with the darts to make it nicer, and now it doesn´t fit me anymore. Stupid! Well, back to some more fiddling...

I'm just finishing up the last of my client orders and then I can finally start on Christmas presents (pajamas for all the little ladies in my life and fabric flowers for the grown-up ladies) and a New Year's Eve dress for myself. Yippee! I've got pictures if you're interested at poldapop.blogspot.com

I saw the Lady Gaga special on Thanksgiving night she had on a wonderful yellow couture coat. I love love love it. Could not find yellow melton in my local store so purchased yellow fleece and using Kay Whitt's Sew Serendipity classic tailored jacket for the pattern.Can't wait to get started. need to find lining. have you tried to put your arm in the sleeve of fleec jacket and NOT have your sleeve twist or bunch up when putting it on. big drag.

I'm dying to know the subject of your next course! When will you tell us? :-|

Sewing wise, I am taking a pattern-drafting course and we just about finished learning skirts, so I'm sewing... skirts. I am in the process of finishing up a 10-gore skirt with flare starting at the hip. I also sewed some mouse-toys for my friend's kitten. Next up will be a self-drafted skirt of a design of my choosing. I'm thinking of using a hip yoke, two front pleats that start at/below the hip, and small patch pockets above the pleat.

After a long break from sewing (years), my next project is a sloper. Exciting, right? After that, though, some vintage patterns await me. I'm so happy to have discovered your blog. You've given me a lot of useful info for my first vintage project. Thanks! Diana

my cat loves herself some nice, silk crepe de chine, but luckily this time it was a linen cotton blend... from Japan.http://assets.burdastyle.com/project_images/assets/000/197/177/orchid_fabric_large.jpg?1306032606

I've always known that the true test of fabric quality is to start laying it out to cut it, then start the one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand... countdown for the cat to come running to "help me" cut it out.

Happens every time -- if it's the good stuff, the cat is there before the fabric is completely unfolded :-D

Unfortunately, that is always followed by the wails from the bathroom after he gets locked inside!

I finished the Bombshell Dress from your Craftsy course, so it's no longer on my sewing table (thanks for all the guidance!!). Next in line is a super simple pajama pants pattern, and after that... I really want to make a jacket or a coat! But, instead I'll likely be making more holiday gifts. ;)

What isn't on my sewing table! My cat also likes to sit on my fabric as I am sewing it -- I toss him off, but he jumps back on. Again, I toss him off, and then he ends up on my lap as I sew. He ends up winning, and I continue sewing with him on my lap. Working on several skirts in different fabrics -- 2 differnt style skirts. Underlined two, and lined two skirts, still trying to decide whether to underline and line my 5th skirt. Just cut out a pair of pants -- my second attempt at making my first pair -- wish me luck!